SAFFORD — Due to an increase in hospitalizations and a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases, Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center announced changes to its visitation policy.
Effective Jan. 3, visitation is limited to 1-5 p.m. each day, and visitors will only be allowed in following a negative screening for COVID-19 symptoms.
In addition, those wishing to visit a patient hospitalized for COVID-19 must show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test within the previous 72 hours.
In its most recent update, issued Dec. 15, MGRMC was averaging 16 hospitalized patients per day, with about 64 percent of those hospitalized for COVID-19.
In addition, slightly more than 90 percent of the patients hospitalized were not vaccinated for COVID-19.
December has been the deadliest month for COVID-19 in the Gila Valley. According to the most recent set of data released by Graham County Health Department, there were 30 coronavirus-related deaths through Dec. 27, a 172-percent increase over the number of COVID-19 deaths in November.
